The Director-General of the National Information Technology Agency (NITA), Richard Okyere-Fosu, says the best is yet to come in Ghana’s tech space as the launch of the CitizenApp Data Interoperability System (CADIS) marks a defining moment for the country.
He described the initiative as a new era of connectivity, where citizens have the power to access government services in a way that suits their lives, and not the other way around.
Speaking at the launch of the CADIS yesterday in Accra, Mr Okyere-Fosu said the system would benefit every Ghanaian by reducing bureaucracy, increasing transparency, and delivering real convenience.
“I am incredibly proud of the work we have done with our partners across the government to bring CADIS to life. When we first began this journey to develop the CitizenApp, the vision was clear: to create a digital platform that would unify the hundreds of government agencies, enabling them to share data efficiently and securely, all in service of the citizens,” he said.
“After three years of hard work and the collaboration of several government agencies, I am excited to say that today, we have achieved that goal. We now have a system that brings government services into the hands of every Ghanaian, making processes smoother and interactions more efficient than ever before,” he added.
Mr Okyere-Fosu highlighted the convenience that also comes with using the App citing an instance where the burden of submitting a bunch of documentation by a young graduate applying for a passport to pursue opportunities abroad is lifted.
“In the past, they would have had to gather multiple documents from various institutions—birth certificates, ID cards, proof of address—and manually fill out lengthy forms. With CADIS, that burden is lifted. The system allows agencies to access the necessary data instantly,” he explained.
“The graduate’s Ghana Card and other information are already available, enabling the passport office to verify details and process the application in record time. This isn’t just about convenience—it’s about creating a system that respects people’s time,” he added.
Mr Okyere-Fosu further disclosed that “another exciting use case is the process of registering a new employee for pension benefits. Businesses and organizations can now rely on CADIS to share employment and identification details with pension agencies like SSNIT, eliminating delays and inefficiencies.”
“The new employee doesn’t have to make multiple trips to different agencies to ensure their pension contributions are registered correctly. This is critical because it ensures that people can start building their future security without administrative bottlenecks,” he pointed out among other things.
He commended the management of NITA for their tireless effort, the leadership of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and all the government agencies that played a part in making the vision a reality.